Edwina M Brown

Edwina was a scholar, teacher, and educator who affected many lives in Dallas. She earned a BA from SMU where she was awarded membership in Phi Beta Kappa Honorary. She held an MA from UTNT, and a PhD from Texas A & M at Commerce. She spent 36 years of service in the Dallas Independent School District as a teacher, counselor, and administrator. She was principal of DeGolyer Elementary, Reinhardt Elementary, Gaston Middle, and Thomas Jefferson High School (TJHS.) At retirement she was honored by the TJHS faculty with a dedication of the library in her name, the Edwina M. Brown Library. The TJHS Alumni Association honored her as an Outstanding Faculty Member of TJHS. Edwina was the first female principal of a Comprehensive High School in the DISD and served as President of the DISD Administrators Association. After retirement, she spent six years with Dallas Baptist University teaching principalship to graduate students. She was also a member of the Dallas Woman’s Club, Marianne Scruggs Garden Club, President of Dallas Glass Club, a member of Schreiber UMC and Highland Park UMC.

At SMU, she met the love of her life, Herbert L. (Bert) Brown, Jr. and they were married on December 19, 1954 at the First Methodist UMC of El Campo, Texas. Together they created a life of laughter, respect, shared adventures around the world and most of all, love. Recently, the couple celebrated 65 years of marriage. Edwina was preceded in death by her parents, her adopted brother Ray Page, her only son Herbert L. (Trey) Brown, III, her only grandson Herbert L. (HL) Brown IV, and her sister-in-law Dorothy Brown Herkimer. She is survived by her husband, sisters-in-law Eloise Brown Swanson, Barbara Brown Hazlewood and husband James G. Hazlewood, eight nieces and two nephews, as well as the adopted family of Kim and Gary Clay. Edwina leaves a legacy of family, friends, and former students and will always be remembered by her thoughtfulness and compassion for others. She will be forever missed.

A private graveside service for family members will be held at Sparkman Memorial Park . In the future, a Memorial Service at Highland Park UMC will held when possible. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Methodist Children’s Home in Waco, Texas (www.mch.org) or a charity of your choice. The family expresses special recognition and thanks to Dr. Melissa Carry, MD and Dr. Jennifer Wilkerson, MD for their dedicated and loving care to Edwina.